The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-05-21
riences to find many people who have
been Christians for years without know
inor n

AAShSCo W bhu many PCOplO WIN nave
been Christians for years without know
ing it.
One of Dickens's characters was de-
lighted to find out that nearly all his
life he had been speaking prose. A
lady who had been brought up Cath
olic, but had left the church because
she had lost faith in some of it's doc
trines, said to me- ''They tell us that
however good we may be, we will surely
be lost if we do not have Christ" 1
said to her ''Do you not have Christi"
After moments hesitation ST guess
so !" 'Doyou not accept the teachings
of Christ, and try to keep his command
ments, especially to love God, your
neighbor ?'' 80 yes, do that I" That
is all Christ asks. If you do that, no
matter what the priests, or anybody
else may say, you are a Christian"
Beams of joy shone over her face, to be
assured, that in spite Of the anathema
of priest and mother church, she was
still Christian, and accepted of the
Master.
am certain that there is a glorious
future before our church. know we
have great opposition, but let that only
fire our courage. They are firing away
at us from the right; they are firing
away at US from the left; we occupy
position exactly at the centre, and that
position we will hold, too, through all
time. Nothing can defeat us, except
our own lack of courage, devotion, and
self-sacrificing love for the Master.
And we are not going to lack these.
New hope and faith were put into my
heart by the experiences at the ''Pas-
tors Institute" 1t was a grand sue
cess from first to last. Not only did
the papers and addresses give us rich
intellectual feast, but some of the devo-
tiOnal services were the most spirit
ually uplifting ever attended. The
"Consecration Meetings" were wonder
full for the outpourings of the Spirit.
Tears streaming from many eyes, made
a peutecostal scene. The pastors as
sembled all sOlemnly pledged them
selves to carry this spiritual power
with them into their fields of labor, and
l believe we will do this, and that God
will greatly bless our labors.
One Of my delightful experiences has
been the growing friendliness on the
part of both pastors and people in other
churches. In certain Iowa village
pl5acfiSU y I'd q flai5 8 utissssy
evenings for number Of months in a
Methodist church. A presiding elder,
whom L had first known when l was a
Presbyterian, had appointments one
Sunday in the morning and afternoon.
To my surprise, at the close of his af-
ternOon discourse, he mentioned me by
name, said he had known me for a
number of years, that was worthy of
the confidence of all Christian people,
and urged the people all to come out
and hear me. This brought me to my
feet in an instant. L said that had
known Brother B. for fifteen years, that
1 had the utmost confidence in his
Christian character, that during the
period of our acquaintance, had been
successfully Presbyterian, Congre-
gationalist, and a Universalist, while
he had been Methodist all the while;
that we had shaken hands all along the
line, and were still as good friends as
ever-bless the Lord And although
it was Sunday afternoon, the whole au-
dience broke into cheers at this mutual
exhibition of fraternal regard.
Brethren, let us be loyal to our church.
l know that we are as yet small in
numbers. 1 know that we are not as
we'll organized as some other churches.
1 know that we often have to do harder
work, and receive smaller pay, than do
some of the ministers in the other
churches. What care we for all that,
WnCI WO hAOW WO HdfO bhO bIutLi3 tAC
truth that must finally prevail, and that
he who owns the universe will not see
us fail of our reward. DIR. Thomas
paid us fine compliment when he said
we were the only denomination that
waved the C White Flag of Eternal
Hope" l love that flag, love the
church that waves that flag, in spite of
all obstacles, in spite of all our defects,
and we are all willing to admit We have
them, there is no church can so love;
there is no church in which l can feel
so much at home as our church. I'm
der that flag will 1 work, under that
flag will fight while L live, and you
may wrap that flag around me when
die.
"A correspondent of the Record states